THANKS TO THESE FOLKS

Forsythia Festival volunteers
Over sixty people pitched in to make the Forsythia Festival a real success.  Anyone who’s ever worked on a big public event knows how hard it is to get volunteers – so this is a real accomplishment.  The picture shows the organizing committee. In the back row (L to R):  Lindsay Whitfield (with baby Beatrix), Carolyn Shaw-Rimmington, Tanya English, Shannon Grimm, Kristina Riis, Trish Finkelstein, Laurie Ward and in the bottom row (L to R):  Andrew Randell, Tammy Huot, Tova White, Cleo Kirkland and Laura Lenz.  Congratulations and thanks everyone!

Mural painters
Students from Monsignor Fraser College with the help of Donna Sistelli, a teacher there, have been painting walls around Cabbagetown.  They’re finishing a mural on the lane wall at F’Amelia.  They’ve repainted the walls at the Filipino Centre, behind Nettleship Hardware, at Gerrard and Parliament and along Cat Bird Lane.  It’s part of an attack on graffiti that’s been organized by Constable Martin McLaughlin from 51 Division.
 
Safety walk with the police
Thursday May 16, 6:30 to 8:30 pm.  Walk through Cabbagetown South with Staff Sergeant John Spanton from 51 Division.  He’ll point out ways to make your homes and property safer.  Meet at Dundas and Oskenonten Lane.
 
The Cobourg Sings!
John Jay is taking his Cobourg tradition to the Winchester Kitchen & Bar (51A Winchester) on Friday night, May 17 from 8 pm.  Tickets are $10 and the proceeds will again support UForChange.  It’s a fun filled night full of music and goodwill. 
 
The new West Donlands park
Midnight, Friday May 17 is the deadline for voting to choose the name of the new 18-acre park to be built in the West Donlands.  Click here and see the selection of possible names and then scroll down for a full description of the park and its surroundings.

Artfest at the Distillery
This weekend, May 18, 19 and 20, Artfest Toronto launches the summer with a celebration of the eighty-five artists & artisans from across Canada. Artists are exhibiting at the Distillery for three days only.  Featuring pottery, glass, jewellery, paintings, wood turning, gourmet foods, live music and more.

ROM Walk
The Royal Ontario Museum is conducting its annual walkabout through Cabbagetown on Wednesday May 22 from 6 to 8 pm. Meet at the northeast corner of Parliament and Spruce beside No Frills – the leader will have a blue umbrella.  The walk happens rain or shine, about 90 minutes long. For more information, click here. 
 
Vector(s)
At the Fleck Dance Theatre at Harbourfront. Three premiere performances by the Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre (509 Parliament). Two days only, May 24 and 25, at 8 pm. Reserve your tickets now at (416) 973-4000 or click here for more info.

Artscape Salon – Picnic in the Park
Artscape’s second annual fundraising gala takes places in the Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E) on Wednesday May 22 from 6 to 10 pm. It’s a salon styled picnic. Guests and artists will mingle and talk personally over dinner. Silent and live auctions. Cocktail reception at 6 pm and dinner at 7 pm. Tickets are $95. For more info and ticket purchases, click here.

Cabbagetown South yard sale
Saturday May 25 from 9 am to 3 pm.  Do you want to sell your genuine treasures? If you live in Cabbagetown South (Sherbourne to Parliament, Carlton to Shuter), take advantage of the community advertising and the buzz around the day.  Register here and the organizers will take care of signage to your sale.  It’s free and fun.  Do you want to buy some genuine treasures?  If you do, then explore the neighbourhood next weekend and be part of the excitement.

Doors Open Toronto
Saturday May 25 and Sunday May 26
Every year, Doors Open takes us behind closed doors and into places that are historically, culturally and socially significant.  In our neighbourhood, four properties are open during the 2013 tour. 
The Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas E) opened last year and it’s already become a major cultural hub – Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. 
The Enoch Turner Schoolhouse (106 Trinity Street), built in 1848, was the city’s first free school – Sunday only, 10 am to 5 pm.
The Harris Institute (118 Sherbourne) is located in an early Twentieth Century building that’s been a box factory, a lighting store and a door store and is now an internationally recognized post-secondary institution with recording facilities, classrooms and computer labs – Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. 
Parliament Interpretive Centre (265 Front Street at Parliament) is the site of our first legislature and now an interpretive centre – Saturday and Sunday, guided tours at 1 pm, open 10 am to 5 pm. For slide shows, details and links to individual websites go to the Doors Open website.
 
Homebrew
An intimate evening of epicurean delights in support of Toronto Dance Theatre on Tuesday May 28. Heather Shaw will prepare a sumptuous four-course meal and Mirella Amato will pair and introduce a craft beer for each course.  The evening will take place in a glorious Cabbagetown home.  Tickets are $200 with a charitable tax receipt.  For more information and tickets, click here. 

Bring your green thumb
Strawberry plants and herbs are sprouting at Winchester Square Gardens (Ontario at Winchester).  John Corso from Foodshare Toronto and Farhia Abdi from Central Neighbourhood House joined Aberdeen Avenue residents Victoria Hadden and Christina Robinson.  A new planting will take place on Saturday June 2 from 10 am to 2 pm. Everyone is welcome to join in and help. 

Hidden Gardens & Private Spaces
Sunday, June 3 from 10 am to 3 pm.  This self-guided tour showcases ten gardens and hidden private spaces.  The featured guest is Michael Hepburn from Hepburn Landscaping and he’ll be ready to answer your questions throughout the day. Tickets are $15 and are available locally at Jay’s Garden Centre (360 Gerrard E), Mi Casa (238 Carlton), Kendall & Co (227 Carlton) and Fairway Market (520 Parliament).  They’re also on sale at five other locations across the city.  Check out the website here for specific information and to buy tickets online. 

NEWS FROM OUR STORES

Ashtanga Yoga Fundamentals with Emma O’Neill


Saturdays from 3:00 to 4:30 pm, May 25 - June 15 at Sundara Yoga Studio (492 Parliament, side door). Learn the fundamentals of the Ashtanga yoga practice in a slow, safe and comprehensive manner. In this four week course, students will learn Sun Salutations and the fundamental standing asanas (postures), breathing techniques and philosophy of the Ashtanga yoga system. This course will also teach you about the Mysore style approach to learning. Class size is limited which allows for more individual attention. For more info, click here.

MJG Gallery
MJG Gallery (555 Parliament) is still hosting "Memory & Context", part of the Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival featuring mixed-media photographic work by Chris Albert, Mark Gleberzon, Sandy Middleton, Tanja Tiziana and Tommy Vohs. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm.

Essential Apps
Cabbagetown’s Hume Publishing is building a wide and interesting audience for its new project, Essential Apps.  “Apps” are the hottest new product to be launched in recent memory and thousands of them are now available.  Essential Apps is a weekly summary that sorts out these offerings.  It’s organized by topics so you can quickly scan through the report to see the ones that interest you.  Click here to see the May 14 edition about investing and financial security. 
 
RESTAURANT NEWS

Music and menus at Cafune
Every Thursday night from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Cafune (194A Carlton), Henrique Matulis brings a special guest to present an evening of Brazilian jazz.  This week, he and Aaron Carter will play instrumental bossa nova. Cafune is open for dinner from Wednesday to Saturday with a three-course dinner for $19.95 or $24.95 with a glass of wine.  You can see the weekly menus here. 

The Ben Wicks Pub
The patio is open.  Everyone on the staff is slowly recovering from Game 7 in Boston. We’re praying that  they’ll finally be okay by the time the Blue Jays start up in the World Series.  The Wicks’ menu has become really interesting lately. Here’s a sample from Thursday’s Facebook page – “Creamy herbed tomato soup, and house-made sopressata on a flatbread with roasted red peppers, mozzarella, parmesan and arugula.”  Check this page whenever you want to eat out.  The daily specials are usually listed there.  424 Parliament

View The Vibe’s list of the classiest patios
F’Amelia’s patio (12 Amelia) has earned a spot as one of Toronto’s classiest – “You’ll feel as though you’re in a small Italian bodega when occupying a prime spot on F’Amelia’s patio. This Cabbagetown gem has pizzas for any palate, and they’re all the more, shall we say, palatable when sliced and savoured with the soft summer breeze on the nape of your neck.”  Read the review here.  Martini Mondays are still underway. Sit outside and sip a martini for only $4.99.  Plus – enjoy your meal and your martini and pay with cash or debit and F’Amelia will then donate 1% of your bill to the Cabbagetown Youth Centre.

Craft brewers and wineries at Gilead Café
Thursday May 16 from 6 to 10 pm.  Spearhead Brewing Company and Bellwoods Brewery join Jamie Kennedy for tastings, a beer-friendly menu and talks by the brewmasters.
Friday May 17 from 6 to 10 pm, Cave Springs, Hidden Bench, Tawse and 13th Street Winery will be highlighted. Jamie Kennedy will offer a menu designed around their wines.  Find out more here.
Thursday, May 23 from 6:30 pm, Jamie Kennedy and Charles Baker create a Local Food Movement dinner. This four-course spring feast is paired with Charles Baker’s wines from Stratus, from his own winery and from Clos Thales in France.  Dinner is $75 and a flight of wines is $25 (plus tax and gratuity).  Reservations are required (647-288-0680) - space is limited.  Gilead Café (4 Gilead Place)

Peter Donato returns
On Sunday, Cabbagetown’s Peter Donato returns to the Flying Beaver (488 Parliament) to present his original music and stylings. The show starts at 7:30 pm, $10 advance tickets, $15 at the door.

Merryberry’s new menu


Cyril has chosen Laura Calder’s cookbook “Dinner Chez Moi: The Fine Art of Feeding Friends” for his menu themes in May and June.  She inspired him to open Merryberry.  So his next menu features corn chowder, an avocado duet, quinoa salad, beet and orange salad, black bean halibut, lamb curry and lemon mousse.  559 Parliament.
 
Win tickets to the Rolling Stones
The Winchester Kitchen & Bar (51A Winchester) is giving away a pair of tickets to the June 6 Stones concert at the ACC.  For every $10 that you spend at the Winch, you get a chance to win. The big draw happens on Tuesday June 4 at midnight. These are $600 floor seats!  Check it all out at the Facebook page.

Advance tickets for Back Alley Beer
The Back Alley Beer Festival happens on June 15 at Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton). A limited number of advance tickets are now on sale through the website – click here.  It’s Stout’s party for the Ontario Craft Beer Week celebrations.  There’ll be two sessions, from 1 to 4 pm and 5 to 8 pm.  Tickets are $20 and that covers admission, an OCB glass and five 5-ounce drinks. 
 


CLUBS & PUBS EVENTS
THURSDAY MAY 16 TO SUNDAY MAY 26
Contact info
Alice’s Place, 554 Parliament St, (647) 931-9088
Ben Wicks, 424 Parliament St, (416) 961-9425, www.benwickspub.com
Cafune, 194A Carlton Street,  (647)748-7884, Facebook and http://cafune.ca/
Dominion on Queen, 500 Queen St E, (416) 368-6893, www.dominiononqueen.com  
Flying Beaver, 488 Parliament St, (647) 347-6567, www.pubaret.com
Paint Box Bistro, 555 Dundas St E, (647) 748-0555, www.paintboxbistro.ca
Stout Irish Pub, 221 Carlton St, (647) 344-7676, www.stoutirishpub.ca
Winchester Kitchen & Bar, 51A Winchester St, (416) 323-0051, www.winchesterkitchen.com
If there's a cover charge or tickets are sold, we’ve listed the prices. Otherwise, the event is free.

 
THURSDAY MAY 16
Cafune
6:30 pm, Henry Matulis (guitar) and Aaron Carter (bass guitar)  playing instrumental bossa nova.
Dominion on Queen
7 pm, Wee Folk Club, $10
Flying Beaver
7:30 pm, Lucas Silveira, CD Listening Party, $10/advance & $15/door
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
10 pm, Phill Hood, “The Human Jukebox”
 
FRIDAY MAY 17
Dominion on Queen
9 pm, Jazz Forge, pwyc
Flying Beaver
7 pm, “May Flowers Devour an Hour” comedy with Jeff E, Gareth Lloyd and Megan Myke, $10/advance & $15/door
9 pm, Comedy, cabaret and coffee talk with Ryan G Hynds,  $10/advance & $15/door
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
8 pm, The Cobourg Sings
 
SATURDAY MAY 18
Dominion on Queen
4 to 7:30 pm, Ronnie Hayward, pwyc
9 pm, Sonic Blues Series with Paul Reddick, $10
Flying Beaver
9 pm, Carole Pope featuring Tim Welch & Sean Kelly, $20/advance, $25/door
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
10 pm, Blues & Troubles
 
SUNDAY MAY 19
Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke
Dominion on Queen
11 am to 3 pm, Rockabilly Brunch with the Cosmotones
Flying Beaver
9 pm, Carole Pope featuring Tim Welch & Sean Kelly, $20/advance, $25/door
Stout Irish Pub
5:30 pm, Strategy Boardgaming Night by the Toronto Area Boardgaming Society
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
9 pm, Beau’s presents Open Mic with Porter
 
MONDAY MAY 20
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
9 pm Win-Prov
10 pm,  Industry Night
 
TUESDAY MAY 21
Dominion on Queen
8:30 pm, Hot Club of Corktown Django Jam, pwyc
Stout Irish Pub
7:30 pm, Nerd Night pub quiz
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
10 pm, epic film night
 
WEDNESDAY MAY 22
Alice’s Place
9 pm, Karaoke
Dominion on Queen
8 pm, Corktown Ukelele Jam, $5
Flying Beaver
To be announced
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
7:30 pm, Smart Ass Trivia
10 pm, Karaoke at the Winch with Jason Rolland
 
THURSDAY MAY 23
Cafune
6:30 pm, Henry Matulis and guest, Brazilian jazz.
Flying Beaver
7:30 pm, Terra Hazelton, Julie Michels & Sophia Perlman, “Vexed”, $15/advance, $20/ door
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
10 pm, Funk Bucket
 
FRIDAY MAY 24
Dominion on Queen
9 pm, Swinging Black Jack, $7
Flying Beaver
7 pm, Donna Garner & some of her favourite young singers in a cabarat of the most beloved songs,
$10/advance & $15/door
9 pm, Jacquie L Party, details to come.
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
10 pm, Shotgun Wedding Band
 
SATURDAY MAY 25
Dominion on Queen
4 to 7:30 pm, Ronnie Hayward, pwyc
7:30 pm, Film Noir Series “Gun Crazy”
9:30 pm, The Firecracker Series “Nudie Blues”, $15
Flying Beaver
7 pm, The Satin Dolls – four talented women sing the jazz greats, $15/advance, $20/door
9 pm, Kelly Burke & special guests, $15/advance, $20/door
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
10 pm, Soul City Groovement

SUNDAY MAY 26
Alice’s Place
4 pm, Karaoke
Dominion on Queen
11 am to 3 pm, Rockabilly Brunch with the Cosmotones
8 pm, Dustin & Caleb play the blues, $5
Flying Beaver
11 am to 3 pm – Psychic brunch, $29 (15 minute reading plus $5 brunch coupon).
7:30 pm, singer-songwriter Peter Donato returns with “Cantautore”, $10/advance, $15/door
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
9 pm, Beau’s presents Open Mic with Porter